Ahlström, Björn

Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology.

(English)In: Power and education, ISSN 1757-7438Article in journal (Refereed) Submitted

Abstract [en]

This article focuses on principals and their leadership and this is related to perceived level of bullying among the students. Eight schools were chosen in this study, the four schools with the lowest amount and the four schools with the highest amount of students that perceived that bullying occurred at their school. At these schools interviews made with the principals where analysed. One specific question where analysed where the principals answered if they had any bullying at their school. The conclusion is that schools that seem to have a high level of bullying have principals that give two types of responses, one that mitigates the problem by responding that the level of bullying is at a “normal” level or just like “any other school”. The second response is a one of denial where the principals responds with a “no problem”-response that indicates that it does not occur bullying at their school. The schools that have a low level of bullying on the other hand have principals that acknowledge that it occurs. Schools that have a high level of bullying have principals that do not acknowledge that. On schools with a low level of bullying the principals perceives the level of bullying as problem and acknowledge its existence.

Ahlström, Björn

Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology.

2009 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)

Abstract [en]

This thesis examines the relationship between organizations structure, culture and leadership. The specific organization that has been studied is Swedish secondary schools. The Swedish schools have a divided task, first to develop the students academic skills and secondly to develop the students socially and civically. This thesis has its interest on the schools social environment with special interest focused on questions regarding bullying and insulting behaviour. The data that has been used consists of interviews and questionnaires with students, teachers and principals in 24 Swedish schools that have been studied in a larger study. This work is a part of a project called Structure, Culture and Leadership – prerequisites for successful schools?. The 24 schools that took part in the SCL study were divided in to four different groups depending on how well they are succeeding in reaching the social and academic objectives formulated in the steering documents. The main result show that principals that succeed to align structure and culture in relation to both the social and academic objectives are the ones that can be perceived as successful. It is these schools that have the lowest level of bullying and the highest grades. The principal takes social responsibility and takes questions in relation to bullying and insulting behaviour seriously. By doing that the principal can communicate the seriousness of the topic in order to develop awareness within the organization and a preventive work can therefore be possible. In schools that work with the students’ ability to be participative seems to develop the students both socially and academically.